What Is Agitated Depression And How Can It Be Treated?

Suffering from depression is something that can be difficult. Depression impacts people's lives in different ways. Some people who have depression problems wind up being very withdrawn and tend to suffer in silence. Other people who suffer from depression may lash out and feel intense anger due to their symptoms. All types of depression can be quite serious, but this agitated depression can be particularly alarming.

What Is Agitated Depression?

Agitated depression is a specific form of depression where a patient exhibits agitated behavior. This can mean that the patient will feel a general sense of restlessness. The agitation can also present itself as bursts of anger. Sometimes the symptoms of anger can be more pronounced and persistent.

Generally, people who suffer from depression are thought to have lower energy levels and are seen to be less active. This isn't going to be the case for those who are suffering from agitated depression. It is possible for people with agitated depression to experience some symptoms of lethargy but it is far less common. People with agitated depression are often fidgety and more active than people suffering from other depression types.

Symptoms Of Agitated Depression

Many symptoms are associated with agitated depression. The most common symptom of agitated depression is extreme irritability. Sometimes people who are suffering from this type of depression will seemingly snap out of nowhere. They may become very offended or annoyed because of something that would normally be considered a trifle.

Their anger is a symptom of the depression. People with agitated depression are much more irritable than normal. Small annoyances will set off large responses of anger, in many cases. It can be difficult for the families of people who are suffering from this type of depression. They may feel like they are walking around on eggshells when a person is in this type of irritable state.

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Other common symptoms of agitated depression include fidgeting, pacing, and general restlessness. If you notice someone is having trouble staying still, then it is possible that he or she could have a form of agitated depression. Even nail-biting and hand-wringing are symptoms of this condition. Any fidgety behavior that you can think of will fall under this category.

Another symptom to look out for is racing thoughts. Racing thoughts can lead into a person rambling or going on and on about a certain topic. People who have agitated depression have difficulties settling down, and they cannot maintain a sense of calm as easily as others. This can lead to their minds running too fast and perpetuating their feelings of restlessness.

What Causes Agitated Depression?

Some type of stress typically causes agitated depression. Sometimes people develop agitated depression due to experiencing something very traumatic. This could be due to the loss of a loved one or some other type of major life event. Even something such as losing a job has the potential to trigger agitated depression in certain people.

This type of depression is also associated with several other medical conditions. People who have bipolar disorder will sometimes also have agitated depression. The two conditions have the potential to go hand-in-hand. Likewise, people who have anxiety conditions can have agitated depression.

Even hypothyroidism can be a cause of agitated depression. Hormonal imbalances have been known to cause agitated depression, and they will need to be put right to alleviate the symptoms. There are also cases where certain medications, such as depression medications, have caused this type of depression. This isn't incredibly common, but it can be a side effect of certain drugs.

How Is Agitated Depression Diagnosed?

A psychiatrist will perform the diagnosis of agitated depression. They will need to examine the patient and see how they act thoroughly. Psychiatrists will pick up on certain symptoms that a patient exhibits. Through both observing a patient's physical behaviors and talking to the patient, a diagnosis can be made.

For a diagnosis of agitated depression to be made a patient will have to have experienced a major depressive episode in the past. The patient will also exhibit symptoms such as racing thoughts, restlessness, and fidgeting. A psychiatrist will also note any angry outbursts that have been reported. A professional will always do their best to get the diagnosis right so that the treatment of the condition can be handled with the proper care.

Available Treatments

There are many different approaches to treating agitated depression. Some people prefer to treat this type of depression with medication. Others will attempt to use therapy as a means to deal with the causes of the depression. Sometimes both methods will be used in tandem to get the best results.

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Several different medications are used to treat agitated depression. Antidepressants are used to try to alleviate depression symptoms. Mood stabilizers can help patients to try to avoid the severe mood swings and angry outbursts that are associated with this condition. Even certain anxiety medications can be used to help treat this type of depression.

As noted above, stress and traumatic events are among the many factors that contribute to people developing agitated depression. Anti-anxiety medications can be used to effectively relieve stress and anxiety to allow a patient to feel more at ease. This can potentially help with the overall restlessness that a patient will feel. When combined with other medications, it can be effective at eliminating many of the symptoms of agitated depression.

Therapy is also a crucial part of the process. There is a reason that people suffer from agitated depression. The loss of a loved one or some other traumatic life event may have been the cause of this depression in the first place. Therapy can help patients to work on their issues while feeling safe. Being able to talk about what is going on with a professional therapist can help to turn things around.

There are many techniques that a therapist can use to make a patient feel better. They can reassure their patients, be a calm force in their life, and generally help to mellow out the anger that they are feeling inside. It can be quite a process to eliminate agitated depression from your life, but therapy can help. When a patient is willing to commit to the process, it will be able to yield positive results.

Dangers Of Suicide Or Self-Harm

It is also important to note that people suffering from agitated depression are thought to be more at risk for suicide. Agitated depression causes racing thoughts and general restlessness. This can lead to poor decisions being made, and sometimes a patient will turn to self-harm. This is why it is imperative that those who are suffering from agitated depression have the right help.

Family members and close friends of those suffering from this condition need to keep an eye on the condition of their loved one. It is important to ensure that everything is okay. If someone who is suffering from agitated depression knows that they aren't alone, it will hopefully lead to them seeking out help when they have suicidal thoughts. Getting treatment can help to mitigate these problems but it is still important to remain vigilant to avoid potential tragedies.

Speaking With A Counselor Can Help

If you or someone that you love is suffering from agitated depression, then it can be very difficult to cope with it. This type of depression can negatively impact someone's life. You want to be able to move on, but it isn't something that simply goes away quickly. It may take a commitment to a long treatment process to feel like life is getting back to normal.

There is something that you can do for yourself to help make things feel better. If you want to, it will be possible to talk with a professional counselor. Even if you already have a therapist, knowing that you can have someone to talk to at all times will be beneficial. If you feel like you are having negative thoughts and are worried about your condition, you will be able to reach out to the counselor.

You don't even have to leave your house to be able to make use of this counseling. All of the counseling can be done from the convenience of your own home. There is an online counseling website that helps many people deal with symptoms of depression and anxiety on a daily basis. This convenient website is a great resource for those who need help in their battle against depression.

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Whether you are having negative thoughts and you need a friend or if you want to try to work through some issues, these counselors will be ready to help. Simply head on over to https://www.betterhelp.com/start/ today to get things started. This is a very convenient resource that will always be available to you when you need it the most. It isn't something that you should feel obligated to do, but if you want the help, then it is good to know that it is there.

Simply having people to talk to when you are feeling low is a good way to keep yourself safe. There are going to be days where you will feel particularly depressed, and your thoughts may be dark. This happens to people who suffer from agitated depression, and it is something that you can get through. Reaching out to caring professionals will allow you to feel better. If you don't want to speak to a counselor, then calling a trusted friend or family member will work well too.

It is simply important for you to know that you are not alone in this fight. It is not always easy to cope with something like agitated depression. The symptoms can be tough at first, but with the right treatment, you can manage them. When you have access to all of the help that you need, you will be able to know that things will get better.

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

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